On going home

This week marks our return from spring break and the beginning of the end of the year. With only two months left in the year, my first year of college is coming to an end. Welcome Weekend feels like a lifetime ago, though I remember almost every moment in visceral detail. I took time at home to live an eremitic life for a week, turning back the clock and focusing on what made up a significant portion of my life only a year ago. Nostalgia is potent, and it was valuable to unwind. In honor of the DOGE chief, I will describe my week using Elon Musk’s five-point formula. 

1. Exercise: I went on an eight-mile bike ride on an old trail. There were no clouds. I also completed three runs at my local community college. The mountains are an enhancer, giving me strength I would otherwise not have in the flat Midwest. I also looked at the sunsets when I ran, reminding me of the difference between my two worlds. 
2. Faith: I returned to my local parish, Our Lady of the Mountains, for Mass. It was nice to be with people I had not seen in several months. I heard the familiar voice of my local priest within the Church I attended for over a decade. 
3. Entertainment: I watched the latest episode of Survivor with my Dad. I’m thankful to have watched it at home because I could barely sleep from the adrenaline of the utter insanity that was Season 48’s third tribal council. It’s been almost a week, but I implore you to go watch it for yourselves. You will not be disappointed. I also returned to the world of Skyrim during the break, beginning a new play through as an Imperial in the land of the Nords. Booming orchestral music blared while I slayed dragons. I experienced all the classic quotes and bits, ranging from: “I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee...” to Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak’s “Legends don’t burn down villages.” I played a few of my favorite quests, including “Rise in the East” and “Blood on Ice.” 
4. Family: I got lunch with my grandparents at Applebees (the same ones from “On Grandparents”) last Tuesday. We talked about the latest happenings in my family, ranging from my cousin’s wedding to my grandmother’s thoughts about my previous column. I apparently made the rounds in the Lancaster sibling text chain, so I consider that a win. My parents and sister also stepped up this week to make family time, leading to some enjoyable bonding that I’ve missed out on during the last eight weeks. 
5. Friends: Finally, I played poker with my friends from back home. We recounted stories of our spring semesters thus far, discussing the latest highs and lows. We were all similar to how we had been only a year ago, but changes ranging from new vocabulary to different facial hair have become more noticeable. Still, we remain strong friends, especially during a late-night drive to Taco Bell. I also reunited with some younger friends from my mock trial days, congratulating them on their advancement to the semifinals of the state tournament. 

Every homecoming has been eventful for me. I’ve spent time with the people I care about, took a break from life and retreated to the comfort of my queen-sized bed. This time felt different. I have built a separate life, and it moves at warp speed compared to the small-town life I had known. There are small changes around town, like a new sign or a new store. My once freshman and sophomore mock trial teammates are beginning to drive or think about applying to college. The times are changing with haste, and they don’t plan on slowing down. 

Regardless, my two worlds of college and home remain relatively separate. Occasional crossovers breed core memories, though those are rare. Instead, I keep a home life and a school life that don’t interact all that often. It has its benefits, such as the ability to compartmentalize work during breaks or to focus on one thing at a time. There are also drawbacks. I’m far away. It’s become more manageable as the year continues, but it’s still a hefty distance. I’m isolated from many of my friends who stayed local or in-state to go to college. 

This is not to say that I dislike my separate worlds, but breaks present an opportunity to move between them. It is something I am still thinking about because of how unique it feels compared to other people I know. I continue looking at the positive aspects of my new life, the one that I have spent a semester and a half crafting for myself. I look forward to the last part of this semester before I begin my first summer as a college student. The times are changing, but I would rather look at their beauty than long for a life that is not mine to live.